Powell confirms signing with Tech

The wait continues for official word on who has signed with the Texas Tech men's basketball program.

Official or not, though, Butler County (Kan.) Community College sophomore Kasib Powell considers himself a new Red Raider.

Tech declined Thursday to release the names of players who have submitted national letters of intent since Wednesday, the start of the spring national signing period.

The Avalanche-Journal has learned that Panola Junior College point guard Will Chavis and Seminole (Okla.) State College center Ermal Kuqo have signed and sent letters of intent to Tech. Dodge City (Kan.) Community College forward Pawel Storozynski intends to send his letter some time today.

Powell, however, confirmed that he signed a letter of intent and faxed it to Tech on Thursday. He said the chance to play for new Red Raider head coach Bob Knight was the main reason he chose Tech instead of several East Coast schools closer to his home in Teaneck, N.J. Powell made an official visit to Tech last weekend.

''I met him, he was a good guy and I liked him a lot,'' Powell said. ''I think what he has done for his players after two years, he can do for me, too.

''At first, I wanted to go home, but I realized that, overall, this is the best situation for me. I'm excited. I think I can have an impact on the team.''

Powell's numbers would make it seem so. The 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds a game for Butler as a sophomore to earn honorable mention NJCAA All-American honors. He should compete for a starting spot in the Tech frontcourt, along with returning senior Andy Ellis, Kuqo and Storoznyski.

''I'm excited about the chance to play against good competition and good players,'' Powell said.

Tech is still waiting word on whether two early signees intend to attend the university or seek scholarships elsewhere.

Westark (Ark.) College teammates Billy Pharis and Jamal Holden signed with the Raiders during the early signing period when James Dickey was the Tech coach. Since the two players signed official national letters of intent, Tech is obligated to honor the scholarships for at least next season.

Knight recently told Westark head coach Doc Sadler that Pharis and Holden would not fit in his system, and Tech athletic director Gerald Myers granted the two players permission to seek scholarships at other schools.

If both players opt to seek releases, Tech would have one more scholarship to give, with the main focus on signing Bellaire senior center Emeka Okafor. The 6-9, 249-pound Okafor is in Pittsburgh for a high school all-star tournament and was not available for comment.

Okafor is rated as the sixth-best high school prospect in Texas by Texas Hoops.com, and is considered one of the top unsigned prep players in the nation. He averaged 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5.8 blocks a game last season.

Bellaire head coach David Hudek said Thursday that Okafor is still considering Tech, Vanderbilt, Connecticut and Arkansas. Hudek added, though, that Okafor has still not scheduled a visit to Lubbock.

Randy Rosetta can be contacted at 766-8743 or rrosetta@lubbockonline.com